Monthly Archives: September 2013

In the Ninth installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Hon. Andrew C Burks Jr., incumbent Houston City Council Member At Large Position 2, and running for reelection.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.

TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

AB: Andrew C. Burks Jr.

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

AB: I am currently the Houston City Council Member At-Large 2

TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

AB: Local government is the first line of communication between the citizen and its government. Local government ensures trash is collected, responds to citizens needs, improves the quality of life for all individuals in the city, creates jobs while growing the economy and continues infrastructural improvement. Local government is vital because we respond immediately to the needs of the citizen.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

AB: Continue to work with the EPA for funding toward Brownfield clean up, hiring of veterans and disabled individuals, improving the economy of the city and increasing property tax homestead exemption for senior citizens.

TL: With the exception of city government and some other select businesses, Houstonians can still be fired for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender because we do not have a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for general employment. This lags behind other Texas cities such as Dallas, Austin, and Ft. Worth. Do you support a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for the city of Houston? If not, please explain why. If so, please explain how you would work to pass such a measure.

AB: I support a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for the city of Houston. I will continue to publicly advocate for and vote in favor of a non-discrimination ordinance, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in employment, housing, and public accommodation.

TL: There have been an alarming number of complaints filed against officers in the Houston Police Department, accused of unwarranted police brutality towards citizens. A disproportionate amount of this violence occurs in minority communities, and in the vast majority of these cases, officers have gone unpunished. As a result, these incidents cause a cycle of mistrust between Houstonians and the very officers sworn to protect them. What can you do to increase oversight of the Houston Police Department, and help ensure that these incidents do not continue?

AB: Through my work as Houston City Council Member and community activist I have strongly advocated to ensure that Houston Police Officers receive more training in dealing with diverse communities. The job of a police officer is a high stress position and there has to be a stronger dialogue between the citizens and the police department. We should also improve the neighborhood policing policies and ensure police officers do more policing in their communities. I also strongly support town hall meetings collaborating with community leaders and civic club presidents to combat this issue. It is also vital that the Houston Police Department conduct extensive background checks based on all police officers.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

AB: I am extremely qualified for this position because my visible leadership as Houston City Councilmember At Large Position 2 and my experience as an activist and long history of involvement in the Houston community. I have taken the lead on many imperative issues facing the citizens of this great city such as, increasing senior citizen property tax exemption, ensuring our youth have more quality summer jobs, adding more ambulances to the Houston Fire Department and investing in quality after school programs for our youth but there is still a great amount of work to be completed. I also have a strong passion for making Houston the best city in the country to live, do business and raise a family. I also have a great amount of experience working with the cities budget, understanding how the city operates and how all departments’ function.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

AB: Free time is merely a dream. In my spare time, I think of how I can help improve, beautify, promote and better the quality of life for all our citizens and businesses.

In the Eighth installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Ben Mendez, candidate for Houston City Council, District I.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.

TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

BM: Ben Mendez, Candidate for City Council District I.

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

BM: I am not a current or former elected official.

TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

BM: Government can be the great equalizer to serve as the voice of the people. Government addresses many concerns we cannot address as individuals. Government helps gather resources for the public good, and can help protect the rights of individuals, as well as communities.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

BM: My top priorities are affordable housing, updating infrastructure, and improving the quality of life in communities.

I intend to prioritize these issues, and bring funding to neighborhoods in the district that have been left behind, and work to implement green initiatives to reduce energy costs and help the environment.

TL: With the exception of city government and some other select businesses, Houstonians can still be fired for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender because we do not have a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for general employment. This lags behind other Texas cities such as Dallas, Austin, and Ft. Worth. Do you support a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for the city of Houston? If not, please explain why. If so, please explain how you would work to pass such a measure.

BM: I support a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for the City of Houston. I would work to pass it by reaching out to my fellow Council Members, as well as unions and community members to appeal to the underlying issues of justice and fairness inherent in such an ordinance.

TL: There have been an alarming number of complaints filed against officers in the Houston Police Department, accused of unwarranted police brutality towards citizens. A disproportionate amount of this violence occurs in minority communities, and in the vast majority of these cases, officers have gone unpunished. As a result, these incidents cause a cycle of mistrust between Houstonians and the very officers sworn to protect them. What can you do to increase oversight of the Houston Police Department, and help ensure that these incidents do not continue?

BM: The Houston Police Department should be held to a high standard in its dealings with the public. In addition to increasing training and reporting systems, I am open to creation of a citizen’s review board to weigh-in on such police incidents.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

BM: My qualifications/assets I feel earn great consideration are as follows:

Experience with City Government & Budget Experience As former City of Houston’s CIP Manager I developed and managed the construction dollars for the City of Houston’s 5-year Capital Improvement Plan and served as the point of contact for all departments in regards to the $1.4 billon spent on new construction and renovation of City facilities. In addition, I was hired by the Houston Independent School District to develop the district’s $1.2 billion 5-year Capital Improvement Plan for the construction of new schools.

Small Business Experience As the Founder and President of PMJ Project Management Group I offer more than 17 years of experience in the energy, architectural, engineering, and construction industries, with special expertise in managing, budgeting, and program/policy development.

Our company was recently honored at Harvard University by ICIC as the 41st fastest growing inner-city businesses in the nation, and ranked Number #1 in the State of Texas.

As the Chairman of Texas Association of Mexican-American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC) I have proven experience in promoting strategic to enhance small business growth in the Hispanic community.

Community Organizing Experience As Founder of NHPO, and a former Union steward for the Houston Federation of Teachers [HFT], I have the community relationships and grass-roots organizing experience to increase civic engagement in our communities.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

BM: When not on the Campaign Trail, I enjoy spending time with my wife and children. We are an active family, and even more so since my 1-year old recently learned to walk. I am always happy to get together with friends for fun, and to support charitable community efforts, such as National Hispanic Professional Organization – Leadership Institute, Tejano Center for Community Concerns, Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, Talento Bilingue de Houston and many others. Of course I also enjoy our local sport teams and especially enjoy cheering on my alma mater University of Houston Cougars, and the Houston Texans.

In the Seventh installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from James S. Horwitz, candidate for Houston City Council At Large Position 5.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.

TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

JH: James S. Horwitz

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

JH: I have never held, or run for, public office before.

TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

JH: In today’s time, there is an often-repeated metaphor for the role government should play. Some people believe government should stay out of most issues, whereas many others believe the government should be a key player in most issues. Disagreeing with both of these premises, I believe that government should be a referee in our society. The government should be an arbiter of disputes in our society, as well as the provider of certain invaluable services. In the case of the City of Houston, this includes our general welfare, utilities and protection.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

JH: My top priority is to listen to my constituents, hear their concerns, and try if reasonable to help them. For example, recently, I took my son up to Boston as he continues his collegiate education. While on the plane, I struck up a conversation with the flight attendant—who is based in Houston. She told me that FAA regulations required her to occupy the gateway between the terminal and the plane for hours at a time, sometimes in the grueling heat. The City of Houston controls the air-conditioning in the gateway. They could turn it on for the benefit of the staff required to be in there. Just listening to this Houstonian has brought this issue —adding fans and air conditioning to airport gateways— to my attention, and it is one I will argue to be implemented. I am sure there are countless other issues that Houstonians have that I can learn about. In addition, strengthening public transportation, developing an comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance protecting LGBT people as well as expanding recycling service to all corners of the city are major concerns of mine.

TL: With the exception of city government and some other select businesses, Houstonians can still be fired for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender because we do not have a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for general employment. This lags behind other Texas cities such as Dallas, Austin, and Ft. Worth. Do you support a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for the city of Houston? If not, please explain why. If so, please explain how you would work to pass such a measure.

JH: I strongly support a non-discrimination ordinance, domestic partnership agreements and same-sex marriage (including a symbolic resolution by the City Council supporting it). Recently, Mayor Parker announced her intention to make this issue a priority for her possible third term. If elected, I will work closely with the Mayor to pass this ordinance out of the City Council, as well as strongly support a charter amendment to achieve this action.

TL: There have been an alarming number of complaints filed against officers in the Houston Police Department, accused of unwarranted police brutality towards citizens. A disproportionate amount of this violence occurs in minority communities, and in the vast majority of these cases, officers have gone unpunished. As a result, these incidents cause a cycle of mistrust between Houstonians and the very officers sworn to protect them. What can you do to increase oversight of the Houston Police Department, and help ensure that these incidents do not continue?

JH: I would work closely with the Houston Police Department to help the department conduct internal investigations of its officers. Unfortunately, these incidents have been going on since I moved to Houston in my teens in the 1960s. At that time, racist and corrupt police officers generally got a free pass from the City Government and Herman Short, the Chief of Police. However, today, I would like to think the situation has improved. I do believe that Mayor Parker and HPD Chief McClelland have been doing great work to punish brutality and oppression from HPD officers. I am reminded most vividly of the case of Andrew Bloomberg, a HPD officer recently acquitted of the videotaped senseless beating of a minor. After the verdict, both Parker and McClelland stood firm in ensuring Bloomberg would never again have a job with the Houston Police Department. Still, there are issues we must deal with to stop these miscarriages of justice.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

JH: Many people may agree with my positions more than any other candidate. For example, I am the only candidate in this race who, in a recent election dialogue of the League of Women Voters, unequivocally supported a non-discrimination ordinance protecting LGBT people. I am the only candidate to go on-record supporting the pending Wage Theft ordinance in the City Council. There are countless other issues such as this one, where I stand alone in my position. While the other candidates in this election certainly have many honorable personal characteristics, I believe I have distinguished myself from them on the issues. If you agree with me on the many issues I have discussed on my website, “horwitz4houston.com,” then I believe I am the ideal candidate for you to support.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

JH: I have a big family, and thoroughly enjoy spending as much time with them as I able to do so. I was extremely lucky, many years ago, not only to marry my amazing wife, Deborah —who raised our two sons, Geoffrey and Noah, with me— but to marry into her great family.

If you’ve been to Houston recently (and took some time to exit the freeways), you probably could tell one thing pretty quickly… the city is in the throws of a rapid transformation. Much of this building boom is taking place in the form of new condominiums and mid-rise structures, which will likely increase after revisions to the city’s development code. But it’s not just the law that is mandating these types of developments… much of it is driven market demand, as more and more Houstonians prefer to live in a traditional “built urban” environment.

The shift in thinking is starting to get noticed outside the city as well, for it affects the way Houston does business. Take this interesting interview on the changing face of Houston architecture, from an architect’s perspective. The editor of the Chicago Architecture Blog interviewed John Lahey, CEO of Simon Cordwell Buenz. SCB is a Chicago-based firm that is currently working on projects across the United States, including two in Houston.

Editor: Houston is a whole different market.

Lahey: For an urban person, it’s not as accommodating. But there is a sprit of Texas that you can’t help but like. Even if, politically or whatever, you’re not in sync with it, their do-it-yourself identity is really kind of neat.

Editor: How is working in Texas different than the other markets you’re working in?

Lahey: The people that we’re working for in Texas are from Texas, so the Texas imprint is very apparent. I would say in Texas it’s just not as dense and hard an urban environment, and it’s a little more gracious. A little more landscaping when you come into the building. It’s hot, but it’s sunny a lot. The units are a little bigger.

There’s a vitality in Texas that is different. Chicago and San Francisco have very established urban areas and you’re sort of being part of an established urban framework. Whereas in Texas, you can be more freewheeling, and people want to just celebrate it a little more. The buildings in Chicago have a lot of civility, where in Texas… it’s hard to say exactly what’s different.

In Texas the construction costs aren’t as much as they are here, and so you get more for your money.

Editor: And no zoning in Houston.

Lahey: Austin has zoning. It has a lot of zoning. But the buildings there are large, and we’re working on a few smaller ones, too.

Editor: In the last few years, people in Houston seem to be coming around to the notion that it’s OK to live in a tower instead of a rambler.

Lahey: I think there’s quite a bit of it. And then there’s more stuff starting to happen in downtown. The one that we’re doing in Montrose isn’t a super-tall tower. It’s probably half as tall as this [Rincon Two], but that’s tall for there. But what’s neat about an area like that where there’s already a density and there’s restaurants and stuff, when you bring in that many people and do it in a way that still lets the neighborhood be what it is, it’s just more people going to these things. Walking to them. And you can see how the urban experience that we all love, will morph into a Texas way of being urban.

Austin is a little more urban feeling because of all the music downtown, and it’s pretty centralized. And because of the size of Austin, they’ve probably got a denser core than Houston. But I think Houston is going to be really good. The things that are happening there are really positive.

Editor: Are there things that you have to do differently designing a building in Houston?

Lahey: It’s not so cold, so when you do your amenities, the outdoor — the pools and all that stuff — are really important because you’re going to be using that a lot.

Balconies… You know, it gets so hot that some people want them and some people don’t. Somebody told me that you just don’t sit out a lot in Houston. So when we’re doing it, there is the thought that people are going to be in their apartments and have the windows closed and have the air conditioning on a lot.

Now in Chicago, we have the same thing in the winter — people are going to be inside and have the heat on. So, they’re similar. Whereas in Chicago, you’re making sure things don’t get too dark, in Houston you’re making sure things don’t get too light. You don’t have the short days, what you have is the big hot sun. Here you’ve got the winter, when it’s dark and it’s cloudy, and you want to make sure you get enough light into each unit.

Editor: Do you need heavier HVAC units and bigger ducts for all that air conditioning in Houston?

Lahey: A lot of it is done with natural ventilation, although we do use mechanical ventilation a lot more in Texas than we would here. Here it’s mostly natural ventilation because people can just open a window. In Houston, you want fresh air, but you’re just not going to touch that window.

The old traditional building with the punched openings and small windows, we hardly [ever do that]. We like the more modern, contemporary ones with the views. When you live in a high-rise that’s the one great amenity that you have, and when you see the views being limited by the size of windows, that seems wrong.

The aesthetic of buildings, people there really do respond to more contemporary buildings today. They like having big amounts of glass in their living rooms. Bedrooms aren’t so critical. But that’s happening across the board. It’s everywhere.

That’s in Hawaii, that’s in California, that’s in Texas, that’s in Chicago, and it’s in Miami. It’s everywhere.

As Mr. Lahey says, there are definitely some advantages to the having a more “fluid urban environment” like you find in Houston. One project, like Discovery Green, can spur a whole burst of new activity virtually on its own. It’s great to see so many developers noticing the changes in trends, and looking for copious business opportunities in the city. As a Houstonian, there’s nothing more exciting than getting to witness the growth and change happening throughout the city. But it also serves as a reminder that along with the new wave of development, Houston cannot leave its basic infrastructure behind. Just as important to the renaissance of the city’s built urban environment and densification is the full commitment of the city to improve our ailing drainage and sewer systems so they can keep up with the dizzying growth. A complete streets initiative becomes all the more imperative as our city gains more residents, and our public transit has to both improve and plan for the future as well. Impressive new towers and mid-rises are great, but they won’t matter as much if we can’t get to or from them.

In the 21st century, indoor sports isn’t that big of a deal in many American cities, or throughout Europe. Millions of attendees take in Soccer, Baseball, American Football or other large sporting events within the confines of an indoor facility where they don’t have to worry about temperature or inclement weather. You go to the game and have a great time.

But 48 years ago, that wasn’t the case. No one had ever thought to hold what most considered an “outdoor sport” like football, and put it indoors. No one did, until Houston did it. On April 9th, 1965 with the President of the United States, the Governor of Texas and a host of other major dignitaries in attendance, the Harris County Domed Stadium–the Astrodome– opened its doors to the general public. And with that opening, the world of professional sports changed. Here’s more from Jere Longman of the New York Times…

The Eighth Wonder of the World, as the Astrodome was nicknamed, with its 200-foot-tall roof and nine-acre footprint, became the most important, distinctive and influential stadium ever built in the United States.

It gave us domed, all-purpose stadiums and artificial turf and expansive scoreboards. It gave us seminal respect for women’s sports when Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs at tennis in 1973. It gave us the inventor of the end zone dance in 1969, Elmo Wright of the University of Houston. It gave us the first prime-time national television audience for a regular-season college basketball game, with the famed 1968 meeting between Houston and U.C.L.A.

Whether you’re in Houston or New York, passions run high when people discuss the future of the famed Astrodome. The fate of the historic structure will be decided this Fall by Harris County voters, which is why many have turned to some interesting news this week. In the inaugural poll for the 2013 municipal elections, KHOU/KUHF found that 45% of voters surveyed favor the bond issue to save the dome (and raise property taxes to do it), 35% are opposed and 20% are still undecided. By most accounts, this is viewed as good news for supporters of the Astrodome, because they have less people to convince than the other side. Plus with less than one month to go before early voting, there is still no formal opposition to the bond measure.

Which leads to this impressive video released by The New Dome PAC… a political action committee founded specifically to help with the bond measure’s passage. The video finally details the County’s plans for the Dome in a way that even average voters can understand. It’s a big first step in this process. Texas Leftist formally endorses Proposition 2… the plan to save and update the Astrodome. As an exhibition hall, the Astrodome conversion would turn Reliant Park into the largest Convention Facility in the state of Texas, and one of the largest and most interesting in the country. All in all, a good plan.

The Astrodome ‘changed the game’ of the 20th century, but it’s up to Harris County voters to see it live in the 21st century.

In the Sixth installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Zeph Capo, candidate for Houston Community College Board of Trustees District 1.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted verbatim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.

TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

ZC: Zeph Capo

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

ZC: I have not held public office.

TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

ZC: Government is a direct reflection of our greater society. It is a picture of what works and does not work. We get out of government what we put into it. I believe voting shouldn’t be considered a right, but a responsibility because government works best when the governed are involved in the process. Government defines us as a people and we should never take for granted that we are defined by the democratic principles that make up our society.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

ZC: My top priority would be to pass a stronger board ethics policy that results in more transparent business practices by the community college. I would welcome citizen advisory oversight by accounting/financial professions to review the colleges practices and make recommendations to the board. I would work to build a coalition of board members that wanted to increase the public trust in the board by passing better policy after a thorough review of best practices nationwide and an opportunity to take input from the community.

TL: As our nation’s educational and professional landscape continues to evolve in the 21st century, institutions like HCC stand to be a critical part of that important process. In your opinion, is HCC ready for the monumental changes coming to education? What can the system do to best prepare?

ZC: HCC is a leader in distance education and has begun innovative new programs to meet the needs of our local workforce. We must improve our business practices to ensure the 425 million dollar bond program is executed with fidelity and efficiency. Additionally, we must ensure that our tax dollars allocated by the bond are used in absolutely the best manner to accommodate the needs of a 21st century workforce.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

ZC: I have almost twenty years experience in public education as a classroom teacher and policy advocate. My experience with grassroots community organizing and school reform will be an asset to the HCC Board as we begin to rebuild connections with the community and reform board practices for the 21st century. I have extensive experience working with individuals from diverse and often competing backgrounds where consensus is required to be successful.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

ZC: I enjoy spending time outdoors, especially on the beach. I volunteer with the Miniature Schnauzer Rescue Society as often as I can. I really enjoy cooking and enjoying the company of friends.

From the inbox, this is extraordinary news. Gene Robinson, retired Bishop of the Episcopal Church, is coming to Houston next week. Bishop Robinson made history as the first gay person to ascend to the office of Bishop for a major American church denomination. His leadership to dispel fallacies about the LGBT community is evident both through the sweeping changes of US law and evolving Christian attitudes. Robinson is currently a Senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Contact: Houston Americans United Toni Medellin 832.868.4586

FIRST OPENLY GAY EPISCOPAL BISHOP TO ADDRESS HOUSTON CHAPTER OF AMERICANS UNITED

Bishop Gene Robinson Will Weigh In On Religious Liberty, Tolerance At Meeting of Church-State Watchdog Group

Retired Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop consecrated by the Episcopal Church in the United States, will speak next month at a meeting of the Houston Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The event, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee: Religious Liberty in a Religiously Zealous Society,” will be held at 7:30pm on Oct. 3 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Houston.

Robinson, a vocal supporter of church-state separation, will discuss the idea of religious freedom in America and explain how the Religious Right misconstrues that concept.

Tickets for the main event are $10 for students, $20 for Americans United members, $35 for non-members and $40 for a special package that includes a ticket and a one-year AU membership.

Robinson will also be available for a special ticketed reception at 6:15pm.

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.